Psalms 38:21
in Psalms 38Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.
KJV
Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.
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This verse in Psalms 38
Commentary
5 notes on this verseon Psalms 38:21-22
(Verse 21.) And yet, although he follows righteousness, he does not consider it to be of his own virtue, but of heavenly grace, if he is not forsaken by Christ; and for this reason he prays more earnestly, saying: Do not forsake me, O Lord my God; do not depart from me; that is, men have forsaken me, my friends have attacked the one who is dear to them: they have not drawn near.
This site's exposition
Do not forsake me
on Psalms 38:21-22
Two petitions close the psalm, that God will not forsake him and will not stand far off. The help asked for is help that comes quickly. The psalm's last Hebrew word is salvation, and the Berean names the LORD his Savior.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Forsake me not, O Lord,.... Or continue not to forsake; for he seems to have been under divine desertion, and might be under apprehensions that God had utterly forsaken him; which he entreats he would not, though his friends had forsook him, and his own strength had failed and left him, Psa 38:10; O my God, be not far from me; as to his gracious presence, and with respect to help and deliverance, otherwise God is not far from any of his creatures, being omnipresent.
on Psalms 38:21-22
He pleads, "Thou art my God, whom I serve, and on whom I depend to bear me out; and my salvation, who alone art able to save me, who hast engaged thyself by promise to save me, and from whom alone I expect salvation." Is any afflicted? let him thus pray, let him thus plead, let him thus hope, in singing this psalm.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Forsake me not, O Lord. Now is the time I need thee most. When sickness, slander, and sin, all beset a saint, he requires the especial aid of heaven, and he shall have it too. He is afraid of nothing while God is with him, and God is with him evermore. Be not far from me. Withhold not the light of thy near and dear love. Reveal thyself to me. Stand at my side. Let me feel that though friendless besides, I have a most gracious and all sufficient friend in thee.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תַּֽעַזְבֵ֥נִי | taazveni | you forsake me | H5800 → | 215 times |
| יְהוָ֑ה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י | ʾelohai | O God my | H430 → | 2601 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּרְחַ֥ק | tirchak | you be distant | H7368 → | 57 times |
| מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ | mimeni | from me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֥נִיyou forsake me
taazveniH5800 →215 times
יְהוָ֑הO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱ֝לֹהַ֗יO God my
ʾelohaiH430 →2601 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּרְחַ֥קyou be distant
tirchakH7368 →57 times
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃from me
mimeniH4480 →1188 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 22:24For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.
it leads to
- Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 50:6–9
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
- Psalms 118:5
In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free.
- Hebrews 5:7
Through
Psalms 22:1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
it leads to
- Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Psalms 22:16
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Job 3:24
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
- Mark 15:34
Through
Psalms 22:11Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
it leads to
- Psalms 10:1
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 10:1
About Psalms
This page draws on Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.